Emergency lifted in Pakistan, Constitution restored

Islamabad, Dec 15 (ANI): Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has issued a presidential order to lift the emergency and restore the Constitution. The fundamental rights of people have been restored with the lifting of emergency, which was declared on November 3. The emergency remained in the country for 42 days. The 1973 Constitution has been restored with some amendments. Musharraf will address the nation today in the wake of the lifting of the emergency and the restoration of the Constitution. Earlier, Pakistans Attorney General Malik Qayyum has said that Musharraf will issue a presidential order to lift the emergency by 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Musharraf would administer oath to Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar in the afternoon, he said.

The CJ would later administer oath to all the Supreme Court judges, Qayyum added.

Qayyum also said that Musharraf would address the nation through state television and radio at around 8p.m.

He said articles 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 25 of the Constitution, which had been suspended by the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO), would be restored. (ANI)